ATP-3-94-2 HIMARS Deep Operations Download

Fires in the Deep Area 1 September 2016 ATP 3-94.2 A-3 STRIKE A-11. Strike is an attack to damage or destroy an objective or a capability (JP 3-0). The Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) or High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) units assigned to a field artillery brigade (FAB) or allocated to a division artillery are the typical units of choice to conduct field artillery strikes on targets in the deep area. A strike is generally focused on a specific enemy formation and is a deliberate task with a timeline of several hours to several days. It is not a fire mission against a target of opportunity. A-12. A strike by field artillery has three primary advantages. First, there is reduced risk to aircrews or aviation assets conducting the strike. Second, there is very little delay between acquisition of the target and delivery which is usually minutes. Third, there is little the target can do to defend itself once acquired, except to move outside of the range of the lethal effects of long-range surface-to-surface fires; for many types of targets that is impossible. The primary disadvantage of a strike is that a maneuverable target may be able to avoid engagement. A-13. The FAB employs Army fires, often complemented by attack aviation or joint fires, to conduct a strike, and it may be the supporting or supported command. A strike may include rapid and aggressive maneuver of FAB assets well forward in the supported higher headquarters AO to achieve range on the identified target. This is accomplished either by assigning a mission to a brigade combat team (BCT) to support the FAB’s maneuver forward or by task-organizing maneuver or other security assets (for example, infantry, armor, military police, air defense artillery) to the FAB to allow the commander to position his forces. Strikes capitalize on the ability of Army forces to deliver precise effects of fires to the full depth and breadth of the division, corps, or other FAB supported command’s AO. A-14. To accomplish its mission, the FAB or DIVARTY must be interoperable with the joint battle command network. The corps or division may be allocated joint or multinational air, surface, and subsurface fires assets to attack targets to operational reach. The FAB and DIVARTY must also have the ability to pass targets among maneuver BCTs, support brigades, divisions, and joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational partner sensors and attack systems. Additionally, the FAB and DIVARTY must be integrated into the corps, division, and BCT air defense coverage. The FAB and DIVARTY requires allocation of protection from the engineer brigade, as well as information operations capabilities and space support from the corps, division, and unified action partners. A-15. The FAB commander exercises mission command, executes engagement of joint force commander time-sensitive targets and executes shaping strikes for the corps or division. Detailed planning and targeting is conducted by the fires cell to turn the supported commander’s targeting guidance into specific targets and to develop a fire support plan. Sensor plans are developed to support the fire support shaping tasks. The FAB commander recommends measures of effectiveness and measures of performance to the supported maneuver commander. A-16. Characteristics of the corps and division fires structure include networked fires consisting of fully integrated joint fire control networks. The corps and division have the capability to mass fires without having to mass the units themselves. Advanced fire direction, extended ranges, and position locating capabilities permit firing systems to be highly dispersed, including the effective conduct of fire missions by single platforms, without forfeiting the ability of the force to mass fires and provide mutual support between echelons. A-17. Field artillery fire support systems provide highly integrated and automated fire planning systems and processes that ensure continuous fire support; optimize the allocation of internal and external resources; automatically deconflict the targeting process; simplify clearance of fires; ensure mutual support between echelons; sharply reduce latency; and achieve maximum effects for resources expended. Planning and coordination requires near-real time connectivity to organic and joint sensors. Fire cells provide integration of joint and multinational fires in support of operations from corps to battalion level and provide for the integration of lethal and nonlethal capabilities to meet the commander’s intent. A-18. The requirement for engagement with interdiction capabilities will increase, not diminish, over time. The long-sought goal remains one shot/one hit with potentially multiple kills. However, conditions will continue to arise in which area munitions remain the right choice for employment and for which the